Improvement in sash-holders



JOHN. conm.

Sash Ho|der Patented Dee-0.121871.,

lneasesf- JOHN coun'r, oE MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE.

IMPROVEMENT IN SASH-HOLDERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 121,852, dated December 12, 1871.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN COURT, of Memphis, in the county of Shelby and State of Tennessee, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sash-Locks and Holders, of which the following is a specification The object of my invention is to secure an effective device for locking and holding windowsashes, so that they readily may be raised, lowered, or held in any desired position; and the improvements consist in combining a sash having holdingnotches or ratchet-teeth in one of its edges, anda pawl secured to a spindle, which is provided with a shank that serves to operate the pawl and also to retain the pawl in any desired position by locking with a suitable notch in the stile of the window-frame.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 is a perspective view, partly in section, of the upper part of the window-frame with the sash raised and held in that position by the pawl; and Fig. 2, a similar view ofthe lower part of the frame with the sash down and locked by the pawl in such position.

rEhe window-frame A is mortised to receive a cheek-plate, B, which Serves to support and inclose the pawl. The pawl C is placed between the plates b b and lixed to a spindle, D, which is also supported and journaled in said plates. The inner end of the spindle is, in this instance, con nected, by a knuckle-joint, D1, to the shank, D2, which serves not only to turn but also to lock the spindle in any desired position, as hereinafter described. This shank is made cylindrical for a part and rectangular for the remainder of its length, and passes, through a mortise, d, of Suitable size, through the inner face of the window-frame. The mortise is covered by a plate, E, fastened to the window-frame, and provided with a central opening, c, and a suitable number of notches, 1 2 3 4, connecting with the central opening. The shank passes through the central opening, and is then in line with the spindle D, so that the shankspindle and pawl may be oscillated. When the shank is turned until its square portion ts a corresponding notch the shank may be turned upon its joint out of line with the spindle and secured in the notch, by which means the tumbler may be locked in the desired position. The shank has a knob, E', formed on its end, so that it may easily be operated. The sash F has a rectangular notch, f, in its upper corner, and a number of ratchet-notches, f', along its edge.

In operation, the shank may be placed in the central part e of the plate E, and the sash can then be raised to the desired height; the shank and with it the pawl are next turned sufliciently to permit the shank to be placed in notch 1, which will securely hold the pawl in one of the notches j' in the edge of the sash, and thus prevent the sash from being either raised or lowered without first disengaging the shank from the notch in the plate. By this means the sash may be locked at a sufficient height for ventilation without leaving the window exposed and unsafe. When it is desired completely to close and lock the sash the pawl is operated as before until it falls into the rectangular notch in the cover of the sash; the shank falls simultaneously into notch 2 and the window is securely locked. As the shank falls by its own weight into notch 2 it will be seen' that unless the shank is purposely placed in another notch the pawl will automatically lock with the sash, and thus lessen the probabilities of the window being left open and insecure.

It is obvious that various modifications may be made in the details of construction of the device without departing from the spirit of my invention. For instance, the shank may be rigidly connected with and form a part of the spindle instead of being connected by the knuckle-joint, in which case the spindle and pawl would be keyed together by well-known means, so that the spindle could slide freely lengthwise through thepawl, but not oscillate independently of it. The operation would be substantially the same as that first described. The round part of the shank would pass through the square opening in the plate E while the pawl is oscillated, and the square part of the shank would engage with the corresponding opening in the plate when the pawl is locked.

I am aware that pawls and notches or ratchets have heretofore been used for holding windowsashes, and do not, therefore, broadly claim the application of the devices to said purpose.

l claim as new and desire to secure by Letters PatentrEhe combination of a window-sash, having notches o1' ratchet-teeth in one of its edges, with In testimony whereof I have hereunto suba pawl oscillating with a, spindle provided with scribed my naine.

a shank which operates the tumbler and retains JOHN COURT. it in any desired position by locking With ay suitable notch in the window-frame, these members Titnessesz being constructed and operating substantially as T. S. MALLORY, hereinbefore set forth. J. G. FROST. (24) 

